Thill-coupling



(No Model.)

L. GERMAN.

THILL COUPLING. No. 341,744. Patented May 11, 1886.

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LLEII ELLYN GERMAN, OF ALLENTOVVN, PENNSYLVANIA.

THILL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 34:1,7M, dated May 11, 1886.

(No model.)

To all 1011,0711, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LLEWELLYN GERMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Allentown, in the county of Lehigh and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Thill-Couplings, of which the following is a full and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specifieatiom My invention relates to improvements in thill-couplings, and has for its objects to provide a'safe, solid,,and simple construction; a construction adaptable to different sizes of thillbolts without dismemberment or waste of time; and a construction which prevents any rattling in the coupling caused by wear.

Figurel isaside view of my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 isa plan viewot the under side. Fig. 4isa side view showing the parts in position before coupling.

Thill-couplings have heretofore been subject to many difiiculties and inconveniences. The constructions have many separate parts, which are apt to become detached and lost, and require careful adjustment, or they are large and unsightly. These difliculties and inconveniences are obviated by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings,

in which A is a thill-iron, provided with a perforation for a short bolt, E, and having at itsrear end a hook, forming at its inner angle a bearing for the thill-bolt, and widening as it opens with straight sides. The leg A of this hook reaches back and below thebody A of the thill-iron, and is coupled by a hinge to a flexible springband, a. Through the perforation in the thill-iron A, before spoken of, is passed a threaded bolt, E, which engages an elongated nut, B, and draws it close to the thill-iron A. This elongated not B is provided at its forward end with a loose thumbscrew, 0, the head of which is countersunk in B, so as not to prevent the close contact between A and B, and at its rear end it is attached by a hinge-joint to the swinging part b. This swinging part b is of the same thickness as B until it reaches the shoulder of the thilliron A, forming the hook or bearing for the thill-boltf, when it isenlarged to conform to the hook, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, and forming the under side ofthe bearing for bolt f. The bolt shown in drawings is of thesmallest size, and the parts are all close together; but in practice this is not the case, there always being a little play. The flexible springband a passes over this swing part I) and engages the thumb-screw O by means of a narrow slot, a, cut in it for that purpose.

' The operation of myinventionisas follows: XVhen it is desired to couple, the parts are placed in the position shown in Fig. 4., when the spring a and hook A are passed over the thill-bolt f. The swinging portion is then put in place and the spring-banda made to engage the thumb-screw O, which is turned crosswise of the slot or, and all the parts are securely locked in position. If the boltf is large, the parts are held slightly apart, but with no danger of rattling, as the spring-band a presses the bearing 1) firmly against the bolt. When it is desired to uncouple, the thumb-screw is turned until the spring-band is released,when the parts assume the position shown in Fig.4..

Vhat I claim is 1. In a thill-coupling, the combination of a thill-iron forming at one end a hook-bearing, with an adjustable bearing conforming with said hook and hinged to said thill-iron, and a flexible spring operating upon said adjustable bearing, substantially as set forth.

2. In a thill-coupling, the combination oi'a thill'iron forming at one end a hook-bearing, with an adjustable bearing conforming with said hook, an elongated nut attached to said adj ustable bearing and to said thill-iron,a flexible spring-band attached to said thill-bearing and provided with an elongated slot, and a thumb-screw attached to said thilliron and placed so as to engage said flexible springband, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 22d day of March, A. D. 1886.

LLEW'ELLYN GERMAN.

IVitnesses:

J AMES HAMMAN, G. S. B. llLlBERRY. 

